United Technologies and SOS Children’s Villages announce ‘Project Vidya’

Initiative to support education of 800children in SOS Villages across 9 cities in India 

DELHI NCR, India, June 17, 2014 – United Technologies Corporation (UTC) inpartnership with SOS Children’s Villages India, today launched ‘Project Vidya’ to support the education of eight hundred children living inSOS Children’s Villages,across nine cities. ‘Project Vidya’ willofferchildren at the SOS Children’s Villages access to quality education, mentoring and additional support to facilitate improved academic performance. This initiative will be instrumental in paving the way toward a sustainable livelihood and financial self-reliance for these children.

‘Project Vidya’ was formally launched from SOS Children’s Village, Greenfields, Faridabad by Palash Roy Chowdhury,Head – CSR Council, UTC India and Rakesh Jinsi, Secretary General, SOS Children’s Villages India.The initiative will support children between the ages of 4 and 21 years, across the SOS VillagesatFaridabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Alibaug (near Mumbai), Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Bhubaneshwar and Bhimtal (Uttarakhand).

In addition, UTC employees in India will also spend time and share their knowledge and expertise with the children through the company’semployee volunteer program.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Roy Chowdhury said, “At United Technologies, corporateand environmental responsibility is at the heart of our business. This includes promoting growth and vitality in the communities where we operate. Formal education is the most significant means to providing children with the knowledge and life skills necessary for theiradvancement, and UTC is proud to partner with SOS Children’s Villages in this initiative. The family environment at SOS Children’s Villages provides self-assurance to the children, which is the cornerstone of each child fulfilling his or her potential.”

 

Added Mr. Jinsi, “We are delighted to partner with United Technologies to provide quality education to ourchildren, thus enabling them to become active contributors tosocietal progressas they grow up. And with the UTC employee volunteer program, the children will benefit from the guidance and first-hand experience of UTC employeesthus providing further impetus to this initiative.”

The event was also marked by the unveiling of the Project Vidya logo and a painting competition by the children at the Village.

For more details, please log on to www.projectvidya.org.

 

About United Technologies

United Technologies provides a broad range of high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building systems industries. For more information please visit www.utc.comor follow us on Twitter @UTC.

About SOS Children’s Villages India

SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, non-government, social development organization that has been providing family-based care to children worldwide. In India, the organization has since 1964 enabled four generations of once parentless and destitute children lead constructive lives. Currently, over 6,000 children and young people live in 33 SOS Children’s Villages and 27 SOS Youth Facilities in India. SOS-India is a member of SOS-Kinderdorf International, operational in 132 countries. Please visit www.soschildrensvillages.in

 

United Technologies media contacts:

Goldie Srivastava Davesh Mathur

+91-98-180-82224 +91-98-115-49035

goldie.srivastava@utc.com davesh.mathur@mslgroup.com

 

SOS Children’s Village India media contact:

Tsering Dolkar

+91-98-990-00820

tsering.dolkar@soscvindia.org